Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Challis, Idaho 83226
Saturday, November 5, 1983 12:20 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM THE SIMPLOT RANCH AIRSTRIP WHICH WAS LOCATED BESIDE THE MIDDLE FORK OF THE SALMON RIVER, APRX 27 MI NORTHWEST OF CHALLIS, ID. HE DEPARTED DOWNRIVER TOWARD THE NORTHEAST, BUT THE DESTINATION WAS A USFS STRIP ABOUT 7 MI UPRIVER TO THE SOUTHWEST. A COURSE REVERSAL NORMALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT 6 MI DOWNRIVER. HOWEVER, A TURN- AROUND WAS ATTEMPTED OVER A RELATIVELY SHALLOW (BENCH) AREA ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER, ABOUT 1-1/4 MI FROM THE DEPARTURE STRIP; WHERE, ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, IT COULD HAVE BEEN MADE UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS. THE ACFT CRASHED IN THE BENCH AREA WHILE ON A WESTERLY HEADING. IT CAME TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE WITH LITTLE EVIDENCE OF FORWARD VELOCITY, BUT WITH SEVERE VERTICAL COLLAPSE. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/5/1983
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1220
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City CHALLIS
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83226
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 4330
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2260
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22600
Date of most recent change to record Sep 25 2006 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9006
NTSB Number SEA84MA016
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name de Havilland
Aircraft Model DHC-2
Aircraft Series Identifier DHC-2
Aircraft Serial Number 271
Certified Max Gross Weight 5100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours 7590
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES F. SEARLES
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 656
Aircraft Owner City CHALLIS
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83226
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR UNLIMITED
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1220
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City MAHONEY CREEK
Destination State ID
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --